Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Enrique Tangonan Ona, Jr. (born June 4, 1939) is a Filipino surgeon and public servant. He was the Secretary of the Department of Health from 2010 to 2014, succeeding Dr. Esperanza Cabral. Recognized as one of the top surgeons in the field of vascular surgery and organ transplantation, he earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.
Background
Dr. Ona hails from Pagadian City. He is the son of the first Provincial Health Officer of Zamboanga del Sur.
Before being appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to the Health secretary post, Ona was the executive director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), the post he held for 11 years and has been the president of the Transplantation Society of the Philippines since 1989. He also holds a medical license in the state of Massachusetts, United States.
Health Secretary
After being appointed to the Health Department post, president Benigno Aquino III has instructed him "with regard to expediting universal coverage of PhilHealth, which was one of the campaign promises of Aquino considering that health is the third priority in the platform of the Aquino administration."
Awards and Recognition
- The Presidential Award of Recognition in Organ Transplantation, Year 2000.
- Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee for Medicine in 1979.